Water-pipe attachment.



No. 742,511.A PATENTEDOCT. 27, 1903.

E. W. STEBBINS. WATER PIPE ATTACHMENT.

APPLIUATION FILED nu 2a, 1902. No MODEL.

THE News Farms co., pHoro-umn.. wAsnmqToN, n c.

UNITED STATES atented October 27, 1902i.

PATENT GEEICE.

WATER-PIPE ATTAH lvl ENT.

sPEcIEicn'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,511, dated. october 2r, 190s. Application filed May23, 1902. Serial No. 108,686. `(No model.)

To all whom it may con/cera:

Be it known. that I, EDWIN WILMER STEEL' into the pipe adapted to resist the vnormal pressure, but which will yield under abnormal pressure, and'therebyobviate danger of bursting the pipes,.as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawing illustrative of the inven-Y tion the figure represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device applied.

In this device is comprised a sleeve or casing 10, having threaded inlet and outlet 10a 10b at the ends adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of the water-pipes, so that the water will iiow freely therethrough. Within the casing 10 is centrally disposed a cylinder 11, having a vent-pipe 12 connected therewith and leading outwardly through the side of the casing, as shown. This pipe 12 performs two functions-rst, as a means of communication between the interior of the casing and the outside air, and, second, as a support to maintain the cylinder 11 within the casing 10. The casing 10 is somewhat larger than the cylinder 11, so that the Water will freely How around it, and the area between the cylinder and casing will equal the area of the pipes with which it is connected, so that the Iiow of the water will notY be retarded by the presence of theattachment. IVithin the cylinder 11 are arranged two diaphragms 13 13a, spaced apart at each side'of the pipe 12 and each provided with a series of perforations 13b, as shown. In the ends of the cylinder heads 14 14a are disposed, the heads fitting water-tight in the cylinder and prevented from leaving the cylinder by pins 15 15a, extending into the cylinder, as shown. Between the heads 14 14a and the diaphragms 13 13a are disposed springs 16 16a,whose force is exerted to maintain the heads 14 14a normally outward in engagement with the' pinsl 15 15a. The springs will be strong enough to' support the heads 14 14a in their outward position against the normal pressure of the wa'- ter, so that so long as the pressure is normal the springs and heads will remain inactive;

but in event of any abnormal pressure being exerted upon the heads the'y will yield and relieve the strain and preventdanger of the pipesbursting( ThiswillV occur more particularly in event of the freezing of the pipes, whichfrequently produces a dangerous eX- pansion force and often results in the bursting of the pipes. When pipes in which this attachment is inserted therefore 'become frozen, the expansion will be exertedagainst 'the 'heads 14 14a, which will yield and effectually prevent the burstingvof the pipes.

The vent-pipe 12 permits the escape of the 'air from the cylinder 1l and is therefore a very important feature of the invention.

The device may be of any size to tit anysized pipe and may be varied and modified in minor particulars without aecting the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages.

While two of the heads 14 14a are shown and the corresponding two diaphragms 13 and 13a, it will of course be understood that one head only may be employed under some circumstances with the same results. Two of the heads, however, will preferably be employed, as in that arrangement the device is more sensitive to the change of pressure from either direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A safety attachment for water-pipes consisting of a casing connected into the piping, a cylinder disposed within the casing and having a vent-pipe leading therefrom transversely through the casing for permitting'air in the cylinder to escape when abnormal pressure is applied and for holding the cylinder supported within vthe casing'A against longitudinal movement therein, a water-tight head movably disposed within the cylindertand a spring within the cylinder adapted to support said head against normal pressure but yieldable against abnormal pressure.

2. Asafety attachment for water-pipes consisting of a casing for connection into the IOO piping, a cylinder disposed in said casing and having movable Water-tight heads disposed therein, spaced perforated fixed diaphragms disposed in said cylinder, springs disposed in said cylinder between said diaphragms and said movable heads, and a vent-pipe leading laterally from the chamber formed by said spaced diaphragme through said casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto a'ixed my signature in ro the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN WILMER STEBBINS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD THORP, SIMONET LE BLANC. 

